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Sean Heitkemper, formerly GM at KKJZ in Long Beach, got the thankless job of general manager at Pacifica Radio's KPFK back on July 1, as we told you then. Today the staff was officially notified. Email to the station follows after the jump.
KPFK 90.7FM Radio Los Angeles/98.7FM Santa Barbara, one of five public radio stations in the United States licensed to the Pacifica Foundation, welcomed Sean Heitkemper as its new general manager on July 1, 2008. A Southern California native, Heitkemper joins KPFK on the eve of its 50th anniversary as a noncommercial public radio station broadcasting at 110,000 watts in Southern California. Heitkemper brings 13 1/2 years of diverse management experience as a public radio professional, most recently as general manager of KKJZ, formerly KLON in Long Beach. Appointed to the position of general manager by Nicole Sawaya, executive director of Pacifica, Heitkemper was chosen from a group of finalists by KPFK's Local Station Board.
Graduating in 1994 from California State University, Long Beach with a BA in Political Science, Heitkemper launched his public radio career as a paid intern in the KKJZ/KLON mailroom. By 2007, he was general manager of KKJZ, having also served as its assistant manager, membership manager, fundraising director, program director, and station manger. For five years, he was also a programmer, hosting Nothing but the Blues, Saturday and Sundays, 2pm-7pm, a top rated public radio show with 80,000 weekly listeners. He also hosted Atomic Lounge featuring Jump Blues, Rhythm and Blues and early Soul with a toast to Frank Sinatra for five years. He co-produced major annual music events including Long Beach Blues Festival; Jazz, Latin Jazz and Blues Club Caravans; Cinco de Mayo Latin Jazz Dance Concert; Chuck Niles Celebration (Playboy Mansion); and the High School Jazz Competition and Festival
"Los Angeles needs KPFK, a unique station, that represents democracy at work on the airwaves, 24/7," Heitkemper said. "Listener-sponsorship allows KPFK Pacifica the freedom to be a platform for the voice of the people providing the community a genuine opportunity to be heard," he added, emphasizing his own calling to community and public radio. Heitkemper is married, lives in the city of Los Angeles and keeps in touch with his musical roots by working with independent musicians and bands. He is the happy owner of an English bulldog.
Since 1959, KPFK has created and promoted public broadcasting to build understanding across the community and among individuals, nations and cultures. As listener-sponsored public radio, KPFK provides breadth and choice to listeners with daily news analysis, public affairs on all matters vitally affecting the community, global arts and culture, health and spirituality and music programming.